Being health and fitness conscious as part of a new year resolution is a great thing! If you happen to be in a grocery store this week, I suggest you purchase this type of "special" cheese. Watch this video and decide how you might benefit from Nolan's "seriously strong" Cheddar. Enjoy! :)

—Tristan

The Bowen Beer Bottle Band knows how to spread some good, old fashioned holiday cheer! Happy holidays!

–Greg

I recently rediscovered this video and thought it was worth sharing. Designers and branding professionals can certainly relate! My art director once commented that he'd be surprised if there have been many situations where someone decided to not buy a product or service because the company logo was too small. "We really like everything about your company. The prices are great and the benefits can't be denied. However, your logo is just a bit too small on your marketing pieces, so we've decided to go with someone else." Enjoy!

–Greg

Just came across a great video that offers some very interesting insight into the world of advertising, courtesy of Rory Sutherland. It's long and starts off a bit slow. But, it's well worth watching!

The site doesn't allow embedding videos, so you'll have to watch it here.

–Greg

This video has been around for a while. But, for those of you who haven't seen it, it's pretty funny…and unfortunately, not at all an uncommon occurrence in the agency world.

Words alone cannot express how I feel about the end of the most beautiful season. So here's a little ditty I like to call "Cool to Hate the Fall." I've included the lyrics below in case you can't understand us. And yes, Randy Jackson, we know we're pitchy--what of it?

I know it’s not
Cool to hate the Fall.

The leaves, the smoke, the plaid:
I hate them all.

“Back to school” should not inspire
Ecstatic reveries.

It only means another round
Of registration fees.

That nip in the air just gives me
Pains in my old knees.

Summer, can’t you stay with us
Come on, I’m begging, please?

I know it’s not
Cool to hate the Fall.

But autumn just does not
Hold me in thrall.

Why is everyone so happy
When the Summer ends?

Won’t they miss the beach, the heat
And all their Summer friends?

In the fall the flowers yield
Depressing dividends.

Winter doesn’t bother me,
But Fall gives me the bends.

I know it’s not
Cool to hate the Fall.

I do not sing this
Solely to appall.

Scarves and socks and long sleeves
They interest me not.

I’d rather look at pink and green
But orange is all Fall’s got.

Now I’ll never get to wear
That sundress I just bought.

How about Summer all year long
Now isn’t that a thought?

I know it’s not
Cool to hate the Fall.

—Lisa

I was recently having a conversation with my award-winning-teacher sister about marketing to educators. In all honesty, it wasn’t a conversation at all, but a shameless attempt on my part to get some free demographic research. (For example, did you know that teachers are far more likely to respond to direct mail than email campaigns? And did you know that they prefer technology swag to tote bags and stress balls? And did you know that teachers are really sick of red apple and yellow number two pencil imagery?)

My true goal was to discover whether the field of education was as self-mocking as the advertising industry. I wanted to learn about the inside jokes of teachers. There are one million (give or take) YouTube videos that parody the travails of ad agencies and marketers. It’s practically a cottage industry. We advertisers just can’t stop observing and wittily commenting on ourselves.

Are educators the same? Do they gleefully record themselves mocking…well…themselves? Do they produce highly-scripted video complaints about being in their chosen field? No. They do not. Their funny videos have to have a message.

I give you Not On The Test

I feel so ashamed.

—Lisa

A couple weeks back, Twitter was all atwitter over a rather unfortunate branding decision that was made by Russia's Gazprom and Nigeria's NNPC. The joint venture between these two energy companies, it was announced, will go by the name "Nigaz." Yes, you read that correctly. I understand that "the word we do not say" is not technically spelled that way. But, you don't have to be hooked on phonics to make the association. I'm certain that the intention is for us to pronounce it NIE-gaz. But, really? I mean…really? Is that the best name they could have come up with? Even "Gazgeria," despite sounding like some sort of intestinal malfunction, would have been better. To the brand manager in charge of heading up this naming assignment, I say "FAIL!"

So, it got me thinking. What if other companies took this same, irresponsible approach to naming their joint ventures?

And, my personal favorite…

If you can think of any other joint ventures that could lead to poorly thought out brand names, leave a comment.

—Greg

A friend of mine wanted me to design a "Rapper Chain" for him, which I've never done before. During my research, I came across the article: "The 10 Most Ridiculous Rapper Chains" and it gave me an idea of what NOT to do. I can honestly say, some of the examples are pretty funny, and, oddly enough, I can see myself wearing them. On the other hand, I'd have to achieve a level street cred of which I'm not sure I'm capable. Click on the image to read the full article.

—Tristan